Newsmaker Q&A: Martha Lieberman of Project Lifesaver

Martha Lieberman, local coordinator for Project Lifesaver, is this week's Newsmaker.

Multiple law-enforcement agencies, hundreds of police officers and thousands of dollars can be spent searching for people who have become lost or wandered away due to conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia or autism. Project Lifesaver aims to help relieve that burden. At a news conference last month, officials announced that Allentown, Bethlehem and Lower Milford police departments will be taking part in the program. How the program works: A person living in a community that has a Project Lifesaver participating police department or other agency is enrolled and given a personalized wristband to wear. The wristband emits a tracking signal on an individually assigned FM radio frequency. Caregivers notify their local Project Lifesaver agency that the person is missing and a search team is dispatched, using a mobile locater-tracking system. Coordinating Project Lifesaver in the Valley is Martha Lieberman of Emmaus. She's the subject of this week's Newsmaker Q&A.

Q: What is Project Lifesaver?

A: Project Lifesaver is an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to use state of the art technology in assisting those who care for people with Alzheimer's, dementia, autism, Down syndrome and any other cognitive or medical conditions that might cause wandering.

Q : How did you become involved in the program?

A: I first became involved in about 2008, when my mother, Judith Lieberman, attempted to bring the program to Lehigh County. I became chairman in 2013 soon after her death to continue with her dream of seeing this program come here.

Q: Why was it difficult to get Project Lifesaver off the ground in the Valley?

A: Yes, it was difficult to get the project off the ground, and still is. It is extremely difficult to arrange meetings with all of the police departments, and elected officials, and any other groups that would be involved. It is equally as hard to find funding needed for training and wristbands.

Q: What benefits does Project Lifesaver bring to police and other first responders?

A: There are many benefits to the police and first responders. In my eyes the first reason would be the satisfaction they receive by locating someone and bringing them home safe. Project Lifesaver has a recovery time of half an hour or less, as compared to hours, days or longer for searches, without the same positive result. The equipment makes it so much easier to locate a person.

Q: How many people are currently enrolled in Project Lifesaver in the Valley?

A: We actually only placed the first four wristbands in October of 2014, after many years of trying to coordinate. Hopefully we will have 2 or more in the next few weeks.

Q: How many people would you like to see enrolled by the end of 2015?

A: Everyone that has a loved one who might wander and get lost.

Q: What police departments are part of Project Lifesaver?

A: Allentown and Bethlehem are part of the Project Lifesaver International, they have the equipment, training and participants. Lower Milford should be receiving their grant soon, and then they will be a part of the family.

Q: As we enter 2015 what would like to see happen for Project Lifesaver?

A: My ultimate wish is to see every city, borough, township in Lehigh County have an active unit of Project Lifesaver, and eventually all of the Lehigh Valley